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Poster by Pamela Roberts.

Mark Hilliard Wilson has an engaging approach to teaching and programing concerts that draws from the deep well of history and a desire to relate contemporary interests to universal themes. He founded the Seattle Guitar Orchestra in 2000 and became the cathedral guitarist at St. James Cathedral in Seattle 2006. He has taught at Whatcom Community College, Bellevue College, the Rosewood Guitar and is currently at the Holy Names Academy, his compositions are published by Seconda Prattica and performed widely. Recently Wilson premiered a concerto written for him by the Ukrainian composer Oleg Boyko.  Recently Wilson will be directed Guitar ensembles in the premier of a work he commissioned from Boyko at the 2023 Northwest Guitar Festival in Bellingham, Wa.  2023, released on Bandcamp The Music of Taiwo Adegoke, Changing the canon of the classical guitar with music from Nigeria. Music for Seattle Guitar Orchestra and cello and classical guitar featuring cellist Abbie Eads.  

In 2024 Wilson has worked with Scribe Studios to release a 6 set of music videos based on Wilson’s collaboration with Ukrainian composer in exile Oleg Boyko. Wilson worked with the Seattle Classic Guitar Society to commission a work called Secret Life of Trees for the Seattle Guitar Orchestra.  Further performances were o KING FM Northwest Focus Live and then the work was recorded at St James Cathedral with additional footage at Chuckanut mountain in Bellingham. 

Wilson is an in demand concerto soloist performing Joaquin Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez with the Westsound Bremton Symphony the Octava orchestra in 2023 and in 2024 Wilson performed the other famous concerto by Rodrigo, the Fantasia para Gentilehombre with the Orquestra Northwest and the Octava orchestra. In April 2025 Wilson will perform the Heitor Villa Lobos concerto with the Port Townsend Symphony under the direction of Tigran Arakelyan.

PROGRAM

Heitor Villa-Lobos, Guitar Concerto with Mark Hilliard Wilson
John Williams arr. Jerry Brubaker, Harry Potter and the Goblin of Fire
John Willaims arr. Sean O’Loughlin, Star Wars, The Force Awakens
John Williams and John Ottman arr. Victor Lopez, Superman Returns
John Williams arr. Custer, Jurassic Park

Poster and photo by Pamela Roberts.

PTSO Chamber Music Series features international mix of composers

The Port Townsend Symphony Orchestra (PTSO) Chamber Music Series will be hosted at Grace Lutheran Church in Port Townsend (1120 Walker St.) on Saturday, April 26 at 2 pm.

This free concert series features local soloists, chamber musicians and PTSO members. Donations are gratefully accepted at the door. No tickets or reservations are required. There will be a short reception after the concert.

Sung-Ling Hsu, recently appointed co-artistic director, shared, “This concert features an exciting international mix of composers from France, the United States, Switzerland, Russia, Argentina, and Austria. As an artistic director it’s been fun scouting around for new works. Of course, once we identify the pieces we must recruit musicians. We are fortunate to have eight experienced musicians performing in this concert, including a full quartet of strings, in addition to piano, flute and clarinet.”

Featured artists for this program are Marina Rosenquist, violin; Sara Mary Hall, violin; Tamara Rotz, violin and flute; Sung-Ling Hsu, viola and piano; Pamela Roberts, cello; Joel Wallgren, clarinet; Michael Carroll, piano;  and Helen Lauritzen, piano.

“These programs last about one hour with no intermission, a concert model that has proven to be quite popular with our local audience members,” stated Michael Carroll, co-artistic director.

PROGRAM

~  Sonata for Cello and Piano in A major, FWV 8 – Allegretto poco mosso by Cesar Franck.

~  Quartet No. 2 in D major for Strings,  Allegro moderato by Alexander Borodin.

~  La Calle 92 Duet for Viola and Cello by Astor Piazzolla.

~  Trio in D Major, Hob. XV:16 for Flute, Cello and Piano by Joseph Haydn.

~  String Trio In D minor – Allegretto by Volkmar Andreae.

~  Première Rhapsodie for Clarinet and Piano by Claude Debussy.

~ Piano Trio in B flat Major Op. 65 – Tranquillo by Arthur Foote.

ARTISTIC DIRECTORS

Michael Carroll, piano, studied with Robert Van Meter at Clarion State College in Pennsylvania. An experienced soloist, as well as choral and vocal accompanist, he was the staff pianist and program annotator for Seattle’s Thalia Symphony Orchestra for ten years. Michael lives in Port Ludlow and is pianist with the PTSO.

Sung-Ling Hsu, piano and viola, immigrated to the U.S. from Taiwan. At university she majored in composition and after graduating worked in scoring and sound effects design. She lives in Quilcene and is highly devoted to chamber music. She is pianist at Port Ludlow Community Church and PTSO’s principal violist. 

Pamela Roberts, cello, graduated from the UW, studying with Eva Heinitz and Toby Saks. She was faculty cellist at the University of Puget Sound and a fellowship recipient at the Aspen Music Festival. A retired educational administrator, she lives in Quilcene and is the PTSO’s principal cellist.

MUSICIANS

Marina Rosenquist, violin, has primarily called the Olympic Peninsula home. A graduate of Lawrence University, she puts her education to use in her private studio, rehearsals, and occasional performances. Marina enjoys the gifts of her simple life in being a mum and wife.

Sara Mary Hall, violin, is a scientist by training with over 25 years of gene therapy experience as co-founder/CEO of biotech companies. She specializes in disorders of the eye. She has led multiple initiatives for women and girls in STEAM (STEM plus the Arts) and is PTSO’s principal of the second violin section.

Helen Lauritzen, piano, founded the Seattle Peace Chorus, which she directed for 14 years. In Port Townsend Helen accompanies singers and instrumentalists, sings in RainShadow Chorale and directs the local Threshold Choir.

Dr. Tamara Rotz, violin and flute, has a Master of Music Performance degree specializing in historical performance on flute, violin and viola. With a Ph.D. in Learning Technologies, she works at Peninsula College as the eLearning Administrator. She is a coach for the Kitsap Philharmonic Youth Symphony and a PTSO member.

Joel Wallgren, clarinet, is a graduate of Northwestern University where he studied with Russell Dagon, Steven Cohen, and J. Lawrie Bloom. He is Executive Director of the Poulsbo Community Orchestra where he works to keep classical music alive in our community.

For more information go to https://ptsymphony.org/chamber-music-series/.

Poster by Vincent Oneppo; photo by Karl Perry.